Rock Bridge's Smith Breaks RBI Record

COLUMBIA — With one swing of the bat, all the pressure was off of Rock Bridge senior Jansen Smith.

"Walking up to the plate thinking, if he gives you a pitch, you hammer and you better not miss it. And so, I didn't miss it," Rock Bridge senior Jansen Smith said.

The senior broke the 13-year old Rock Bridge record of single season RBIs with 42 April 30 against Jefferson City with a 2-run home run.

"For a while I was really pressing myself, break the record this game, break the record this game. I went through a cold streak. After I came through that cold streak, I had to pick-up myself and just be like 'It's all about playing baseball', and the records going to come if you just keep swining. So as soon as I wiped it out of my head, I finally got to it," said Smith.

Smith is who the Bruins turn to when they need offense. Batting in the four spot, having runners in scoring position consistently helps him continue add to his RBI total.

"As far as a hitter, he's almost got has 50 RBIs now. He's a guy that the three hitters in front of him know if they get on, they have a chance to score because Jansen is coming up to the plate," said coach Justin Towe.

"It's really fun to just get on base and just get to trot around when he's just driving us in," said senior teammate Mike Nemec.

"He is our offense and that's a big, big thing because we have been in a lot of shootouts this year. Part of the reason we come out on top is because of Jansen," Towe said.

He is also close to breaking another record: The record for single-season hits, just two shy of tying the record of 43.